Uncategorized – Jessica Malnikhttps://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com
Community Builder, Content Strategist and WriterSun, 16 Dec 2018 08:56:02 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.9November Reading Recs: The Stories We Tell Ourselveshttps://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/11/30/november-reading-recs-the-stories-we-tell-ourselves/
https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/11/30/november-reading-recs-the-stories-we-tell-ourselves/#respondFri, 30 Nov 2018 09:21:53 +0000https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/?p=1091Our daily lives are filled with stories. They influence nearly every action and decision we make. Sometimes we’re not even aware of the stories we are telling. There is so much power in getting clarity on what we’re telling ourselves and separating fact from fiction. As Brene Brown wrote in her best-selling book, “Rising Strong” […]

I’ve lost count of the number of friends who raved up about how impactful the book – “Man’s Seach for Meaning – has been for them. And when so many people recommend a book, I predictably think it is over-hyped and delay reading it for years. I finally read this book and I can honestly say it lives up to the hype. Warning – it is powerful and deeply uncomfortable at times to read.

What are you reading right now? Drop me an email, and let me know. The only thing I love more than reading is getting thoughtful recommendations for what I should read next.

*An earlier version of this post went out to my email subscribers. If you want to get first dibs on what I’m reading and the occasional update (I never send more than 2 emails per month), sign up here.

]]>https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/11/30/november-reading-recs-the-stories-we-tell-ourselves/feed/0October Reading Recs: Urgent v. Importanthttps://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/10/29/october-reading-recs-urgent-v-important/
https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/10/29/october-reading-recs-urgent-v-important/#respondMon, 29 Oct 2018 23:29:46 +0000https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/?p=1088It is never been easier to stay perpetually busy, while never get anything done. The default state that most of us live in nowadays is simply responding to whatever is right in front of us or screaming the loudest. We’re on “the urgent treadmill.” Respond to emails. Respond to texts. Respond to Instagram DMs, Facebook […]

]]>It is never been easier to stay perpetually busy, while never get anything done. The default state that most of us live in nowadays is simply responding to whatever is right in front of us or screaming the loudest.

We’re on “the urgent treadmill.”

Respond to emails.

Respond to texts.

Respond to Instagram DMs, Facebook messages, Twitter DMs, etc.

Attend meetings and calls.

More phone calls.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Sound familiar? Before you know it, you’ve spent your entire week putting out fires, responding to emails and attending meetings. You have virtually nothing to show for it except maybe sleep deprivation.

Prioritizing urgent tasks can even feel good in the moment. You’re living fully in reactive mode. It can even be an ego boost. It feels good to feel needed or counted upon. Plus, responding in real-time comes with a healthy dose of instant gratification especially around checking and responding to social media.

On the contrary, the most important tasks are almost never the urgent ones. These are the tasks that tie back to your mission, vision or long term goals. They require you to think deeply, get uncomfortable and do the hard work.

So how do you learn to put aside the urgent and make time for the important work? That’s the theme for this month’s newsletter.

Focus on your own shit. It is never been easier to compare yourself to others, obsess over your competition or get stressed about things you have little to no control over. The reality is when you do that, you are robbing yourself of being able to do your best work.

What are you reading right now? Drop me an email, and let me know. The only thing I love more than reading is getting thoughtful recommendations for what I should read next.

*An earlier version of this post went out to my email subscribers. If you want to get first dibs on what I’m reading and the occasional update (I never send more than 2 emails per month), sign up here.

]]>https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/10/29/october-reading-recs-urgent-v-important/feed/0September Community Reading Recs: Momentumhttps://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/09/29/september-community-reading-recs-momentum/
https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/09/29/september-community-reading-recs-momentum/#respondSat, 29 Sep 2018 18:57:42 +0000https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/?p=1086One mistake that I find myself making is over-relying on sheer willpower. The reality is that our willpower is finite. Building habits are the vehicle to push us through when our willpower is depleted. It allows us to keep up the momentum. I realize there’s irony in talking about habits and momentum, as this is […]

One mistake that I find myself making is over-relying on sheer willpower.

The reality is that our willpower is finite.

Building habits are the vehicle to push us through when our willpower is depleted. It allows us to keep up the momentum.

I realize there’s irony in talking about habits and momentum, as this is the first time in 8 months where I’m sending out this newsletter late.

It is exactly when you miss a deadline- even an arbitrary one – that it is the most critical to restart that habit and build up some momentum again.

Momentum is what carries you through both the highs and lows, the good and the bad and everything in-between.

Every month, I share recommendations to 4 thought-provoking things I read – or in some cases – listened to in the last month.

The theme for this month’s newsletter is momentum.

Walking away from the fast twitch
There’s “urgent” and then there’s “important.” It is never been easier today to get sucked into all of the urgent tasks. The reality is it’s often the important tasks that are never urgent that build the most momentum and generate the biggest and best long-term results.

Feeling Stuck? Change your environment.
Ever feel stuck on a problem? Then, you take a walk or head to a coffee shop and suddenly you have a million ideas or possible solutions. That’s because changing even a small thing in your environment or routine is a way to get out of a rut or help you solve a problem that you previously couldn’t solve.

Daring Greatly
I recently reread Brene Brown’s book – “Daring Greatly.” I bet you are wondering what does a book about courage and vulnerability have to do with momentum? The reality is it has everything to do with this because without the courage to act when you may not be ready, you’ll never end up starting at all.

Fits and Starts
I love the analogy that Jason uses in this post comparing progress made with driving on a racetrack. The fastest way to complete a lap on a track is to go really fast when driving in a straight line and then to wait until the last possible moment to slow down at turns resulting in a lot of jerky motions. The same approach can be said for working on a project or in a team. It can feel unnatural at first but often the fastest way to make progress is to go really fast in bursts and then slow down and start back again when you encounter obstacles.

What are you reading right now? Drop me an email, and let me know. The only thing I love more than reading is getting thoughtful recommendations for what I should read next.

*An earlier version of this post went out to my email subscribers. If you want to get first dibs on what I’m reading and the occasional update (I never send more than 2 emails per month), sign up here.

]]>https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/09/29/september-community-reading-recs-momentum/feed/0August Reading Recs: On Travel and Explorationhttps://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/08/27/august-reading-recs-on-travel-and-exploration/
https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/08/27/august-reading-recs-on-travel-and-exploration/#respondMon, 27 Aug 2018 00:36:23 +0000https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/?p=1084August is a month where things slow down and a lot of people take vacations. The oppressively hot summers in Austin – where I’m based – is enough to make any sane person want to get away for at least a few days. Some people use travel for “self care” or to get out of […]

]]>August is a month where things slow down and a lot of people take vacations.

The oppressively hot summers in Austin – where I’m based – is enough to make any sane person want to get away for at least a few days.

Some people use travel for “self care” or to get out of a rut.

For me, travel has been one of the best ways to reignite my creativity.

I’m naturally a very curious person.

There’s something about going to an unfamiliar place and seeing everything from a new perspective that can do wonders. Even the simplest things like walking around a city or finding a grocery store – things that you do on autopilot at home – are small challenges to figure out when you are in a new place.

The novelty, curiosity, break from your usual routines and thinking through new challenges all help me to be more creative.

On the last weekend of every month, I share recommendations to 4 thought-provoking things I read – or in some cases – listened to in the last month.

How to travel on a third world passport – I openly talk about how much travel has influenced me. The one thing that I’ve taken for granted until now is holding a U.S. passport. You can’t choose where you are born. Your birthplace can make it easy or incredibly difficult to travel abroad. This post from a Thai travel blogger opened my eyes to just how many hoops he has to go through to be able to travel abroad.

What happens if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t travel? You don’t have to leave the country, city or even your zip code to have a “travel mindset.” This is the predicament that Jodi – of Legal Nomads- found herself in after a crazy unfortunate turn of events involving a spinal tap, Jodi is left wondering if she’ll ever be able to live her life of food and travel ever again. This podcast episode is so intense and powerful. A must-listen.

What are you reading right now? Drop me an email, and let me know. The only thing I love more than reading is getting thoughtful recommendations for what I should read next.

*An earlier version of this post went out to my email subscribers. If you want to get first dibs on what I’m reading and the occasional update (I never send more than 2 emails per month), sign up here.

]]>https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/08/27/august-reading-recs-on-travel-and-exploration/feed/0July Reading Recs: Turning Prohttps://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/07/29/july-reading-recs-turning-pro/
https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/07/29/july-reading-recs-turning-pro/#respondSun, 29 Jul 2018 07:30:09 +0000https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/?p=1082I’ve been thinking a lot about the differences between amateurs and professionals recently. Amateurs show up only when they are inspired or want to. Professionals show up and do the work consistently, usually every single day. It is possible to be an amateur in one aspect of your life, and a professional in another. Or […]

What are you reading right now? Drop me an email, and let me know. The only thing I love more than reading is getting thoughtful recommendations for what I should read next.

*An earlier version of this post went out to my email subscribers. If you want to get first dibs on what I’m reading and the occasional update (I never send more than 2 emails per month), sign up here.

]]>https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/07/29/july-reading-recs-turning-pro/feed/0June Reading Recs: On Empathyhttps://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/06/30/june-reading-recs-on-empathy/
https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/06/30/june-reading-recs-on-empathy/#respondSat, 30 Jun 2018 20:13:00 +0000https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/?p=1080Empathy is the ultimate superpower. It is what makes relationships last and entire communities flourish. The problem is I think we’re suffering from a major lack of empathy today. Worse- we confuse sympathy with empathy. Empathy is putting yourself in the other person’s shoes and feeling what they are feeling right alongside them. Sympathy is […]

The problem is I think we’re suffering from a major lack of empathy today. Worse- we confuse sympathy with empathy.

Empathy is putting yourself in the other person’s shoes and feeling what they are feeling right alongside them.

Sympathy is saying it without actually putting yourself in the person’s shoes.

A few weeks ago, we saw this in its cruelest display with the suicides of two beloved famous creatives- Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain.

If anything, this is a reminder that we all have our own struggles, setbacks and demons. Fame, money or success cannot alleviate all of our struggles. Yet the more of any of these things we get, the easier it is to try and rationalize internalizing all of our struggles and problems to the point where we feel completely alone.

We may think we’re practicing empathy but the reality is we can only practice as much empathy and compassion with others as we first practice with ourselves.

Empathy is a lot like love. You can’t possibly fully love someone without first practicing self-love.

I know the theme for this month’s newsletter is heavier than usual. Instead of sharing my usual 4 recommendations for things I read in the last month, I’m going to share 4 great reads about compassion, empathy and yes mental health. The reality is they are all interconnected.

1. “The Internet has not just open-sourced information; it has also open-sourced insecurity, self-doubt, and shame.”

2. Community builders as well as any creative type experience higher levels of anxiety and burnout than the average worker. If left unchecked, it can spiral into depression. In this post, Carrie outlines the core reasons for community builder burnout.

3.Empathy is a choice. When I think about empathy, Brene Brown is one of the first people who come to mind. This video talks about the defining qualities of an empathetic person.

4. I’m not the lone wolf. Mental health is so stigmatized in this country. So anytime a public figure is willing to talk about their struggles is helpful. The last person you expect to talk about battling their mental health woes is one of the most winningest college football coaches in recent memories. This longform article on Coach Urban Meyer’s mental health struggles is not only hard-hitting but beautifully written.

What are you reading right now? Drop me an email, and let me know. The only thing I love more than reading is getting thoughtful recommendations for what I should read next.

*An earlier version of this post went out to my email subscribers. If you want to get first dibs on what I’m reading and the occasional update (I never send more than 2 emails per month), sign up here.

]]>https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/06/30/june-reading-recs-on-empathy/feed/0What I’ve Been Reading: May Reading Recshttps://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/05/27/what-ive-been-reading-may-reading-recs/
https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/05/27/what-ive-been-reading-may-reading-recs/#respondSun, 27 May 2018 15:30:40 +0000https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/?p=1077On the last Sunday of every month, I share recommendations to 4 thought-provoking things I read – or in some cases – listened to in the last month. 1. The pursuit of happiness is baked into the U.S. Declaration of Independence. As a country, we’re obsessed with seeking happiness. As this long read suggests, while we […]

]]>On the last Sunday of every month, I share recommendations to 4 thought-provoking things I read – or in some cases – listened to in the last month.

1. The pursuit of happiness is baked into the U.S. Declaration of Independence. As a country, we’re obsessed with seeking happiness. As this long read suggests, while we all want happiness, the things that we chase that we think will make us happy – like fancy cars and more material things, rarely do.

“If happiness is determined by expectations, then two pillars of our society – mass media and the advertising industry – may unwittingly be depleting the globe’s reservoirs of contentment.”

4. “You are never going to be happy with what you get unless you are happy with what you have.” Warning: Grab tissues before you watch this video.

What are you reading right now? Drop me an email, and let me know. The only thing I love more than reading is getting thoughtful recommendations for what I should read next.

*An earlier version of this post went out to my email subscribers. If you want to get first dibs on what I’m reading and the occasional update (I never send more than 2 emails per month), sign up here.

]]>https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/05/27/what-ive-been-reading-may-reading-recs/feed/0What I’ve Been Reading: April Reading Recshttps://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/04/29/what-ive-been-reading-april-reading-recs/
https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/2018/04/29/what-ive-been-reading-april-reading-recs/#respondSun, 29 Apr 2018 01:39:35 +0000https://www.blog.jessicamalnik.com/?p=1073On the last Sunday of every month, I share recommendations to 4 thought-provoking things I read – or in some cases – listened to in the last month. This month’s post is loosely centered around professional development. 1. Doing things that don’t scale is common advice for startup founders. What many people don’t realize is it […]

]]>On the last Sunday of every month, I share recommendations to 4 thought-provoking things I read – or in some cases – listened to in the last month.

This month’s post is loosely centered around professional development.

1. Doing things that don’t scale is common advice for startup founders. What many people don’t realize is it is also a way to keep your optimism about your company from borderline delusion. One example is to spend time reading all customer feedback.

2. So many of us spend so much time looking for “the big break” or praying to be an “overnight success story.” The reality is there is no such thing. The “big breaks”that you see are the culmination of years – often times decades- of hard work honing their craft.

3. Promoting your content is tricky, and it is getting even harder as more and more content is produced each year. This post from Sujan Patel has some great tips on how to market your content in 2018.